Dana Jo Hughes Jackson was born on January 14, 1962, in Paris, Arkansas to Elywon Hughes and JoEtta Gordon Hughes, and departed this life on January 29, 2022, at Southeast Health in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, at the age of 60 years.
Throughout school, Dana Jo played saxophone in the marching band, played guitar, and was active with Kennett High School's student newspaper. She graduated high school in 1980, and headed to Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.
Dana Jo graduated with a teaching degree from Arkansas State University, following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents who were also educators. She began teaching Kindergarten in Gosnell, Arkansas in 1985. She left Gosnell elementary in 1993 to teach Kindergarten in Kennett, Missouri until she retired in 1999. She touched the lives of many students and colleagues throughout her professional career.
Her sister, Ann, and her were very close, sharing in laughter and many inside jokes. Her daughter, Holly Jo, started teaching Kindergarten due to her mother's legacy. Her daughter, Hannah, always spoke of her mother's loving heart and strives to live life with the same dedication.
In 2009, Dana Jo married the love of her life- Jerry. Dana Jo, Holly Jo, and Hannah joined together with Jerry, Quintin, and Sarah to create a blended family of love. Jerry and Dana Jo spent many years together- supporting one another, laughing, and loving God. They both attended Dexter Church of Christ together. In her sickness later in life, it was Jerry who supported, cared for, and made sure Dana Jo had everything she needed. From the family: Jerry, thank you.
Dana Jo's legacy will be carried on by her husband, Jerry Jackson of Dexter, four children: Holly Jo Engle and husband Clint Engle of Blytheville, Arkansas, Hannah Brasher and husband Daniel Brasher of Kennett, Sarah Simptkins and husband David Simptkins of Dexter, Quentin Jackson and wife Angela Jackson of St. Louis. One sister, Ann Baldwin and husband Travis Baldwin of Little Rock. One uncle, Shelby Gordon of Sikeston, three grandsons: Ethan Hagan Brasher, Henry Austin Simptkins, and Ezekiel Reid Jackson, whom she loved very much. And many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Visitation will be held at Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.
Funeral services will then be conducted in the Mathis Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at 12:00 p.m. with Rev. Britt Burcham officiating.
Interment will follow in the Smith-Stevenson Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Children's Home, 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, Arkansas 72450-3319, Bootheel Youth Camp, PO Box 457, Dexter, Missouri 63841, or the Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation, 8815 Conroy Windermere Road, Suite 309, Orlando, Florida 32835.
Mathis Funeral Home in Dexter is assisting with arrangements.
